Petunia plant named ‘USTUN47601’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Petunia  plant named ‘USTUN47601’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading and low mounding plant habit; freely branching habit; vigorous growth habit; early and freely flowering habit; medium-sized coral red-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Petunia×hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘USTUN47601’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant, botanically known as Petunia×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘USTUN47601’.

The new Petunia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and Bonsall, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-branching and mounding Petunia plants with early and freely flowering habit, attractive medium-sized flowers and good garden performance.

The new Petunia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor on May 6, 2009 in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan of a proprietary seedling selection of Petunia×hybrida identified as code number 08P357-02, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary seedling selection of Petunia×hybrida identified as code number 09PJ23, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Petunia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Bonsall, Calif. on May 27, 2010.

Asexual reproduction of the new Petunia plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. since May 28, 2010 has shown that the unique features of this new Petunia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Petunia have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘USTUN47601’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘USTUN47601’ as a new and distinct Petunia plant:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading and low mounding plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Vigorous growth habit.     -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   5. Medium-sized coral red-colored flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Bonsall, Calif., plants of the new Petunia differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia have slightly smaller flowers than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have darker-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Bonsall, Calif., plants of the new Petunia differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more mounding than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia have larger flowers than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Petunia and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have lighter-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of ‘USTUN19603’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,675. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Bonsall, Calif., plants of the new Petunia differed from plants of ‘USTUN19603’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia had larger flowers than plants of         ‘USTUN19603’.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia and ‘USTUN19603’ differed in flower         color as plants of ‘USTUN19603’ had bright pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Petunia can also be compared to plants of ‘USTUN34803’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,884. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia differed from plants of ‘USTUN34803’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia had larger flowers than plants of         ‘USTUN34803’.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia and ‘USTUN34803’ differed in flower         color as plants of ‘USTUN34803’ had red purple-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Petunia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Petunia plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘USTUN47601’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘USTUN47601’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the spring in 11.4-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse and finished in an outdoor nursery in Bonsall, Calif. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 24° C. and night temperatures averaged 18° C. Plants were pinched one time at planting and were eight weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia×hybrida ‘USTUN47601’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of             Petunia×hybrida identified as code number 08P357-02, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of             Petunia×hybrida identified as code number 09PJ23, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three days at             temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About four days at             temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About 15 days at             temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About 20 days at             temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to outwardly spreading and             low mounding plant habit; freely branching habit with about             25 primary lateral branches with multiple secondary lateral             branches developing per plant; dense and bushy appearance;             pinching enhances development of lateral branches; vigorous             growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 12.5 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 30 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 15.5 cm. Diameter: About             3 mm. Internode length: About 1.3 cm. Strength: Strong.             Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 146D. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate before flowering; opposite after             flowers develop; simple.         -   Length.—About 3.4 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.6 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Sparsely pubescent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation,             close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 146B; venation, close to 146B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely pubescent. Color, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 146C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single axillary salverform flowers;             flowers face mostly upward to outwardly; freely flowering             habit with about 19 to 20 flower buds and open flowers             developing per lateral branch.         -   Natural flowering season.—Long day responsive; long             flowering period, plants flower from early spring until             frost in the autumn, flowering continuous during this             period; early flowering habit, plants begin flowering about             eight weeks after planting.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About three to four days;             flowers persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower size.—Diameter: About 3.2 cm. Depth (height): About             3.6 cm. Throat diameter, distal: About 6 mm. Tube length:             About 2.8 cm. Tube diameter, proximal: About 3 mm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 3 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Shape: Elongated oblong. Color: Close to 176B.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five petals fused in a             single salverform whorl. Petal lobe length (from throat):             About 1.5 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.4 cm. Petal lobe             shape: Roughly obovate. Petal lobe apex: Rounded. Petal lobe             margin: Entire. Petal lobe texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Throat texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Tube texture: Pubescent. Color: When opening and             fully opened, upper surface: Close to 46A; venation, close             to 46A; color does not fade with development. When opening             and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 182B; venation,             close to 183D. Flower throat: Slightly more grey than 76A;             venation, close to 183C. Flower tube (outside): Lighter than             N77D and towards the base, close to 145C; venation, close to             183C and towards the base, close to 145B.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five sepals fused in a             single star-shaped whorl. Length: About 1.3 cm. Width: About             2 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Rounded. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper             surface: Close to 146A. Color, lower surface: Close to 146A             to 146B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.2 cm. Width: About 1.5 mm. Angle:             About 30° from the stem axis. Strength: Strong. Texture:             Pubescent. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five.             Filament length: About 1.5 cm. Filament color: Close to             145D. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther shape: Rounded.             Anther color: Close to 158A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen             color: Close to 158D. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One.             Pistil length: About 1.9 cm. Style length: About 1.4 cm.             Style color: Close to 145C. Stigma shape: Rounded. Stigma             color: Close to 146A. Ovary color: Close to 146D.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development has not been             observed on plants of the new Petunia. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Petunia have not been     noted to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to Petunia     plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed to     have good garden performance and have been observed to tolerate     rain, wind and temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about 40° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘USTUN47601’ as illustrated and described. 